Review: Ithaca Excelsior! 12th Anniversary Ale

Now into the third week of my
attempt to make up for lost time drinking all the craft beer I missed while
abroad, I shelled out $10 for Ithaca’s 12th Anniversary release
knowing it was a special-occasion beer.

This Belgian quadrupel-style beer pours a toasty four-finger head with
clearly stratified lacing into a goblet, ruddy, muddy and murky with a tinge of
butterscotch color.

A malt-fest of hazelnut and oatmeal cookies, the nose opens
up to some lovely citrus notes reminiscent of Clementines. Ithaca’s website
offers little technical information other than the use of French malts, German
hops and Trappist yeast strains; the Belgian yeast certainly lends light esters
to the nose and cuts the creamy richness. There’s also some earthy funk adding
complexity and a solid Belgian feel.

On the palate, thick roasty sweetness
announces the quad style, with the alcohol (10% ABV) only for a second
overpowering. Luckily it slips back into line and merges with persistent layers
of rich caramel malt for a luxurious, end-of-the-night,
if-you-had-any-plans-cancel-them finish.

This is a pairing brew, begging for
peanut butter and chocolate, creamy cheese and fig chutney, or a good cigar.
Enjoying it on his 66th birthday, my dad confirmed that it is
excellent with buttercream birthday cake iced with chocolate and kahlua.

Julia Burke

Julia Burke has lived in the Buffalo, NY area for over ten years. She discovered her passion for craft beer while in college in Portland, Oregon, but honed her pint skills as a bartender at the Pizza Plant microbrew pub in Buffalo, where she educates customers on the many beer styles of the world. She is also deeply involved in the Niagara Escarpment wine scene, which means she has something in a glass most of the time.
Julia enjoys cooking, hiking, traveling and writing, ideally with a beer or glass of wine in hand. She has spent time in Oregon, Nova Scotia, Denmark, Ireland, France, China, and South Africa; her areas of special beer interest include Belgium, Germany, Colorado, eastern South Africa, and Oregon.
Though she loves beers of nearly any style, her favorites are the homebrews her bar regulars bring her.
A fan of mixing genres, Julia enjoys an occasional pint in the vineyard.